Pros & Cons Group Therapy | Stellar Insight Counseling
Pros & Cons Group Therapy | Stellar Insight Counseling
This content is provided as general information and may not be used as medical advice or treatment.
Group therapy is an evidence-based delivery of psychotherapy services for people dealing with issues including:
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) or Trauma
- Grief and Support
- ADHD and Autism
- Healthy Relationships & Communication Skills
- Self-Esteem and Body Image
- Self-Care
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Crisis Intervention
- Postpartum Mental Health
- Going Through a Divorce
- Parents with Disabled Children
- Anger Management
What is Group Therapy?
Therapeutic groups are facilitated by 1-2 leaders (therapist, psychologist, or counselor) and are typically comprised of 2-10 group members; 6-8 is an ideal number for a group.
Groups may be conducted online (telehealth) or in-person.
Groups may be several weeks or months long, while other groups may be on-going.
Short-term groups are typically comprised of the same people from start to finish.
Successful groups are driven by a few factors, as described by Yalom (a therapist who helped incorporate group therapy into modern counseling).
One factor is "Universality," which refers to group members sharing their identity and “problem.”
A group women’s group for domestic survivors would be a safe place for a femme survivor of domestic violence, but not a helpful group for a teenage boy with depression.
Look for a group that feels relevant to your identity or “problem” when searching for a therapeutic group to join: you want to have something in common with the group topic or members.
Another factor for group therapy is "Cohesion," where members experience a sense of belonging and receive something valuable from the group.
Group members need to feel a shared connection or goal for a group to feel “successful.”
Group therapy may not be an appropriate fit for everyone, though there are many benefits of group therapy.
Pros of Group Therapy
- Tends to produce “quicker” results compared to individual therapy
- Can be accessed online or in-person
- Building relationships with people who know exactly what you are going through
- More affordable therapy compared to individual therapy
- Members tend to know length of treatment (individual therapy can be more difficult to define in length)
- Problem- or goal-motivated sessions
- Learning more about yourself through peer interactions and perceptions
- Feeling more understood through group members compared to individual therapy
- Groups may have sooner availability than individual therapy appointments
- Opportunity to build new healthy relationships
Cons of Group Therapy
- A perception of having less time with a therapist
- Early sessions (1-3) may feel awkward
- Being vulnerable in front of strangers can be challenging
- Confidentiality is not guaranteed (compared to individual therapy)
- Not getting along with one or more group members
- Fear of being disliked or rejected by group members
- Joining a group that doesn’t feel like a “good fit”
Some people may simultaneously attend group and individual therapy sessions, others may only attend group sessions, and others may only attend individual therapy.
As a group therapist, I have seen people make weeks of individual therapy progress in a single group session.
Group therapy is an effective and affordable therapy option for motivated people who are seeking support, new skills, or symptom reduction.
About the Author
Hello!
My name is Nicole Zegiestowsky, M.S. (she/her) and I am a pre-licensed therapist in Alaska (supervisor info: Dr. Hannah Ekstrom, #196093, #125200).
I provide online individual and group counseling to neurodivergent adults, LGBTQ+ populations, and perinatal/postpartum populations who live in Alaska.
During my free time I enjoy reading, hiking, and spending time with my pets.
If you live in Alaska and are searching for a new therapist, call me today to schedule a free 20-minute initial consultation to see if we are good fit.
References
Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. (Collaborator). (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (5th ed.). Basic Books/Hachette Book Group.